Wendy

I have been reading over the past few years about all these dreadful cases of child abuse and child murders in the UK - the one's committed by the mothers or the 'boyfriends' (the 'sink estate' types). When I was growing up in Australia my view of life in England was gleened through episodes of Black Beauty, Catweazel, Last of the Summer Wine and All Creatures Great and Small...what ever happened to that side of English life or was all that just a parody...? As most people here are British ex-pats I would like to ask; just when did British society start to fail...? when did the UK start to spawn females who breed without discrimination, without one iota of feeling towards their young...? When did a welfare cheque become the ultimate goal in life...? I mean no offense - but I really would like to know just how things have come to be the way they are these days.[8-)] In Australia the rot set in with the advent of the Labor Party in 1972...  

I'd say the Spanish Govt would have to provide the guarantee. Having said that, why not move your money to a National Savings Account for the simple reason that it is part of the UK Treasury - they print the money and cannot go bust! That's what I did.  

Quillan, I will just jump in here. Firstly, no way would we ever pay several hundred euros/pounds just for a few lines in a book! especially when you have had to 'court' the author with free accommodation and food to boot. And especially a book which does not come cheap to those who buy it... Now - taken - I fell hook, line and sinker for Ms BF ([Www]) and only because we though it would be fun to see ourselves in the paper. She got £140 worth of food and accommodation here out of us and even brought her bloke along for the ride on the premise he was a photographer - (which he is I understand) - but as Quillan stated, it turned out to be a nice 'wheeze' for them both. We have been very tempted to send either Ms BF - or the Daily Express - a bill for services rendered. I agree with Quillan; these parasites eek out a nice living right now. With regards to Sawday and his prices - you would have to get a hell of a lot of bookings to recoup what you pay Mr Freebie to go in his book as well as what you outlay when you shelter and feed him for one night.  

I have an Australian friend who runs a CDH in Perpignan with her French hubby - she has lived here for 23 years.  She told me that once she had a couple stay for a week who, for the first three days, wandered in looking for breakfast around 11.30am. She got fed up and informed them that they were staying in a 'bed and breakfast' not a 'bed and lunch' - problem solved after that. We have extended breakfast time to 10.30am on certain occasion's - on request - but never till midday. "Trop severe" is preferable to being "trop facile"...    

Well, that certainly would be a job and a half however I did write an article on the blog about it. Very satisfying it was too - didn't name her though, don't know what she thought about our region but I know she was 'mad about madrid' in her 'hedonist's guide to madrid'...[Www] Wonderful thing Google is...[;-)]

Pagan then...?

That 'no-Brit' rule surely is a new one - there was that Brit couple who bought that chateau and appeared in a TV series who were listed in it; they even showed Sawday spending the night at the place in one of the episodes. Just thought I'd mention seeing as Sawday's name was raised; we too had an 'experience' with a known travel writer for several UK newspapers who came here last year in June on the pretext that she was writing an article about hotel/B&B accommodation in our region. She emailed me, and others I now know, and requested a nights accommodation for herself and her boyfriend (a photographer) plus evening meal and breakfast in return for a mention in her article. We don't really need the advertising but we thought it would be fun to see ourselves in the newspaper so we said yes.  They arrived and I noticed the absence of any photography equipment at the off. They ate two 3 course meals plus wine and then full breakfast. Licked their plates clean each time. I was a bit sus by this stage as she was not writing any notes down or asking any questions. She said next morning they were off to 'review' another place at Elne and a few others after that... No 'article' has appeared to date (nearly 18 months) and when I emailed her, just out of interest a few months back to find out when it might appear, she claimed she had forgotten about the 'article' and that it could be another year before she would be asked to submit it[8-)]...by which time we wont be here! I felt like sending her a bill after all that[:@] So be wary of certain 'travel reviewers'...certainly nice work if you can get it though[;-)] I would love to name and shame but it ain't allowed... jon, I could sure do with a respite at your lovely place though[:)]

I must find out where jon get's his 'happy pills'...  

jon, those 'guests' don't include the 'old friends' do they by any chance...? only asking[:)] One thing is sure - a nice place in France brings 'friends' - old and otherwise - out of the woodwork. We had some 'old friends' show alot of interest in staying at our place when we opened here - when Arnold mentioned to them that he would extend them a 5% discount off the tariff they suddenly found other things to do for the summer...[Www] My man's a business man through and through[;-)] Anyway, great to see all is going well - where can we find you on the web though?  

Thanks very much for that kahlo - this will be my 'first-born's' very first venture into moving out on his own and, even though I have explained that it will be a learning curve for him,  I can only say so-much as I find I am talking to the hand after a few words. I am sure you understand what I mean there...I recall 'knowing it all' too at that age and it didn't take me long to realise I didn't[:)] That area you suggested, dept 5, sounds good to me as I know there are areas of Paris that leave a lot to be desired and I will worry at the off regardless of where he ends up. I don't mind doing the prep work in order to set him up so long as we find somewhere safe and practical. Oh boy, it dosen't seem that long since I was taking him home from the hospital with the Sister's words ringing in my ears..." Remember, four hourly feeds!! "    

Glad you are enjoying it - hang on to the sense of humour though as time goes on, don't know what I'd do without mine...[:-))][blink]

Don't think I have - I am just into the premlinary enquiries at the mo but thanks for that as a starting block.

Wow jon - have you been imbibing any black coffee this morning...[blink]?

What's a 'Humanist' ceremony...?[8-)]

jon, we are in 66 and this summer saw a drop in guests from the UK and a sharp rise in northern Europeans coming to stay - with more group bookings than ever before. September is when we usually see more Brit's coming over but, again, barely any this month. Funnily enough October is looking to be a busy time though.

My son wants to relocate to Paris to be nearer his beloved who is studying at the Sorbonne and we are thinking it would be better for him to rent a room in a house rather than renting an entire property. He will be working (and possibly doing a course of study at the same time) so the 'Bank of Mum and Dad' will be paying his rent until he gets on his feet. He dosnen't need the room until around December and it will be for six-12 months. If anyone can suggest a website which specialises in such accommodation or if anyone has something they can offer around then I'd appreciate the info. He's 22, very well house-trained[:)] and absolutely besotted...[kiss]

Look, no bona-fide guest offers to pay in full in advance. We reject all emails from Nigeria and the Ivory Coast...too dodgy and we do well enough without them to bother about the risk. You are gonna be inundated with scam booking/etc enquiries now.

[quote user="cassis"]Expose the noxious minority to other owners?[/quote] And the rest of the travelling community as well Cassis; but so far it ain't allowed. Pity, we would all have some verrry interesting tales to tell that other accommodation owners would love to hear. Along the same note; I know to avoid places like Ibiza and certain spots in Greece and Cyprus at certain times of the year after having read what the locals have said about the 'tourists'. I'd love to know what the hotel manager's of where those yobs stay have to say about their 'guests'.... Give me time though - it's on the cars for sure[;-)]

Did you say 'discount'...? She would get no change from Arnold here then (Scottish descent you see...) She sounds like the member of a certain party of Germans who stayed here during August - very nasty piece of work they turned out to be. If only we accommodation providers had our own 'blacklist website' to warn other establishments...[6]

Cat, you make me laugh...seems as though your MGB GT required the same 'flexibility' as the 1983 Volvo did not too long ago - all I can say is even Madonna would have found it tough[;-)] Probably would make a good topic though - 'the best make out car is/was...' Bet the guys here would tell - if they were brave enough[Www] And if my 22 year old son ever reads this he will probably ask me to make him a packed lunch and pack his bag so he could leave in disgust... Beemer; you nominate a 4X4 as one of your fave cars...? you are brave! My old family doctor drove an Austin A40 two-seater back in the 70's - it was still sitting in the old guy's driveway in immaculate condition in 2002. The old Doc is six feet under now but I understand his son-in-law is now spinning around in the car...

Ernie, what is it about the MG that makes it such a fave...? Having seen a few - all with just the two seats - I get the impression that no guy who ever bought one wanted to 'make out' in it...[;-)] Lynda and Dickie - my earliest memory of a car goes back to the Ford Falcon Squire Station Wagon that my Dad bought in Sydney in 1964 - it had that 'faux timber panelling' down the side and she lasted until 1983. One thing though...that wee avatar  'bug' of yours bothers me still - I keep brushing the screen...[:'(]    

Yeah Gastines, I looked here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jowett_Javelin and noted what a tough car it was. Why can't they make them like that anymore? Mum says her Gran used to drive (back in the 30's) 'an old tour-thing with a canvas hood' - so god-knows what it was. She said it was a lovely car but when the locals saw 'Gran' driving down the road in it they would stand to the side to let her past - 'Great Gran' drove very erratically according to Mum[:)]

Wow Anton, you really know your cars! I noticed men pulling up across the road from where the cars were parked and wandering over just to pay homage - they always seem to have a certain 'look' in their eyes when they look at such cars - kind of like how a man views a Page 3 girl...or is there no comparison [;-)] Arnold has a January 1983 Volvo 360GL and considers it a 'classic car', a 'collectors car' - is he deluded or am I wrong? Any ideas on the vintage of that Volvo PV544...? Gosub: that Simca in the link you provided is just like the one I saw - 1951-63 make. And the Panhard was obviously the 1966 model. Very classy indeed. Thanks for the info!

What's her game then Quillan? she sounds like one to set the dog (or mother-in-law) on...[;-)]

Just nipping down to the village this arvo I saw a collection of vintage cars (not sure what the descriptive noun is for a lot of cars parked together...). Saw a beautiful MG - Mum reckons it was from the 30's and looked like the one driven in 'All Creatures Great and Small'. Black and with a red interior. Also a 1937 Peugeot, and two cars I never heard of - a Simca and a Panhard. Real beauties they were too and obviously built to last. Two questions - why did car manufacturers stop producing cars built from that really solid metal - and - where do Simca's and Panhards come from...? There's also a guy in the village who drives a Volvo and it has the number 544(I think) along the front side - never seen a Volvo that looked like it.